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Evos #31DaysOfLove

Have you ever driven by a place and tell yourself you are going to stop by one day? Well, that has been happening to me with EVOS on South Howard for the last several months. I have had many friends rave about their delicious food and famous air fries, so they have been on my list of places too visit for quite sometime. Last week I was invited to a menu tasting at the location in Hyde Park and it was a magical night filled with wonderful food made with only fresh and natural ingredients.

I arrived at EVOS and was warmly greeted by founders Michael Jeffers and Alkis Crassas. As they welcomed me to their restaurant, they showed me to our table which was beautifully set with place mats and flowers. I sat at my seat and began a tasting adventure that started off with organic milkshakes and fresh fruit shakes. With samples of Organic Vanilla, Cappuccino and Chocolate as well as fresh fruit shakes in Strawberry Banana, Mango Guava and Banana Berry, I tasted most of them and was impressed with the incredible flavor and the fact that they are low-fat. I also learned that they add multi-vitamin and mineral supplements to all their shakes. Now I know where I will take my son the next time he begs for a vanilla milkshake.

Our first item was their Wild Alaskan Salmon Burger. Salmon is something that I have to be in the mood for, but this burger absolutely blew me away with its incredible flavor. Topped with freshly chopped dill spread and served on an organic EVOS bun, the Wild Alaskan Salmon Burger is an excellent choice and a healthy alternative to most fast food items. Rich in omega-3’s, it is something you can eat and feel very good about.

After hearing so much about Evos Famous Airfries, I was excited to finally try them. Using the same original recipe from 1994 when they were conceived, these little pieces of heaven are air-baked instead of deep-fried. The result is a delicious french fry with 50-70% less fat compared to regular fries and all of this without compromising flavor. Now, don’t get me wrong, I have been known to sneak a fry out of my children’s happy meals but I have not ordered french fries for years. Now that I have discovered Airfries, I can now have my fries and eat them too!

Paired with our Airfries, we got to sample some of their infused ketchup from their line called Ketchup Karma. Samples included Garlic Gravity, Mesquite Magic and Cayenne Firewalker. I could not decide which one I liked best as all three were simply amazing. The Cayenne Firewalker had a nice kick to it and I fell in love with its flavor. These infused ketchup flavors are a nice touch to this already amazing concept.

This next item absolutely made my night and I never thought I could eat something so darn good and not feel the guilt after. Their Bacon Cheeseburger is made with naturally raised grass-fed beef, hormone/antibiotic-free with their signature hormone/antibiotic/nitrate free bacon and natural aged cheddar. Ok, yes we all know that bacon makes everything better, but truth be told, EVOS bacon makes everything WAY better. Their bacon tastes incredible and is so much healthier than regular bacon. I have just found something I can’t live without, aside from champagne and stilettos. The burger was outstanding and never once did I feel like I was missing out on flavor. This burger rivals chocolate, it is THAT good!

Was I getting full? Yes, but I was not going to let that stop me from tasting my way through their signature items. Next on our menu was their Bacon Caesar Wrap. Just when I thought life could not get any better, it did. This wrap is simply phenomenal! With all natural chicken breast, natural bacon, organic field greens & leaf lettuce, tomato, shaved aged Parmesan and 5-star Caesar dressing all nestled inside an organic wheat wrap, this is a creation of God. I think I found my new favorite lunch item!

As we nibbled on our Bacon Caesar Wrap, we learned more about the company and why they are so adamant about focusing on healthy and organic ingredients as well as being “green” and doing their part to help the planet. It is truly refreshing to see a company that is so forward thinking and invests so much into making a difference.

Our next item is known as “The Crack Wrap” as it is highly addictive. Yes, their Spicy Thai Chicken Wrap will leave you wanting more and more. Had I not been so full, I would have finished the entire wrap. Made with all natural chicken breast, spicy peanut and chili pepper dressing, long grain rice, organic field greens and crispy rice noodles all stuffed into an organic spinach wrap, it is absolutely fabulous. I now know why this is so addictive. 🙂

For a refresher, we enjoyed their Strawberry Walnut Gorgonzola salad. I eat salads about five days a week and this one really won me over. Hand tossed organic field greens and green leaf lettuce with fresh-cut strawberries, walnuts, gorgonzola cheese and a sensational low-fat raspberry lime vinaigrette, this salad is nothing short of incredible.

Our next item was the EVOS Original Championburger, which is their signature meatless burger and is cholesterol-free. I swear, you will never know this is meatless and the flavor is fantastic. They also offer a vegan option.

I was really excited about our next item, Airbaked Chicken Strips. Once again I felt like I died and went to heaven. Just like the fries, these are airbaked and are made of 100% hormone-free breast meat. Packed with flavor, these will not disappoint and contain half the fat of regular chicken strips. I can’t wait to take my daughter in to try these, as she is a chicken strip fanatic. Bravo EVOS!

Our evening was about to end with a bang, as we got to enjoy something I eat maybe once a year or at a ball game. Are you ready? Grilled Beef Hot Dogs! Now, the last time I had a hot dog was this past May at AT&T Park in San Francisco as I watched my Giants defeat the Oakland A’s. I enjoyed a nice hot dog with a cold beer and garlic fries because as the saying goes, when in Rome…..

Now, these are not your ordinary hot dogs. Made with naturally raised and all natural beef, hormone/antibiotic/nitrate-free and drizzled with yellow mustard and organic ketchup and served on an organic bun, their hot dogs are a healthy alternative to your typical fast-food or ball park frank. We got to sample three of their newest varieties:

Chili Dog: low-fat veggie chili with beans and natural aged cheddar

Monterey Dog: fresh avocado, tomato, onion, spicy chipotle mayo

Good Bad Dog: natural bacon, aged cheddar, sweet tangy bbq sauce

All three hot dogs were amazing and my favorite was the Monterey Dog. Never in my life did I think I could enjoy such a childhood favorite without all the fat and calories. I am now a believer! I just wish they sold these at Bucs games. 😉

I am a huge iced tea fan and was blown away when I learned that they shop for only the best teas and brew everything fresh daily. This is something you would expect from a specialty tea shop, not a fast-casual concept. I think I am in love.

As a mother of two, I am always concerned with the health and well-being of my children. EVOS created the Healthy Kids Lunch Program and delivers healthy box lunches to schools and camps. Now how cool is that? To learn more, click here.

Our magical evening ended with a gift from EVOS. I am so glad I attended this fantastic event and that I had the opportunity to taste some incredible food and learn so much about this amazing concept. To learn more about the history of EVOS, please visit their web-site: www.evos.com

As part of my #31DaysOfLove, I have a $20 gift card to EVOS to share with a reader. To enter, simply comment on this post and tell me why you would like to try this healthy concept that started right here in Tampa. I will pick a winner on Friday, December 21st. Good luck!

1 Comment

Oooh – I LOVE Evos!!! I used to live by the South Tampa location in Hyde Park, and I loved that it was a healthy option to satisfy my “bad food” cravings. I don’t have to feel guilty about chicken fingers, french fries, and milkshakes? Yep. That’s my kind of place!